Which Artwork Changed Your Life? — Empress Trash
Artemisia Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes, 1612
Multi-versatile artist, Empress Trash shares her powerful response to one of Artemisia Gentileschi’s iconic paintings, and how the style of this great artist continues to impact her practice.
I studied painting as an undergraduate and until I got to college I didn’t really know of many women painters besides Frida Kahlo. When in one art history class we got the Renaissance, the professor spent a considerable amount of time on Artemisia Gentileschi’s story, which one major part I resonated with — she also was a rape survivor.
Hearing her story, I felt maybe I could also be an artist for once for real because finally there is someone I understand — instead of feeling like an outsider among it all.
When we looked at her works, the rush of emotions I felt are still with me.
Judith slaying Holofernes was by far one of my favourite compositions, the flow and execution of it absolute perfection, but also fundamentally it validated all my feminine rage I’ve been told is invalid by many my whole life to that point.
Susanna and the Elders was the other piece I felt deeply. I adored her work so much after this I spent much time studying it in my free time and even did a project copying all her works the best I could to learn her techniques. My painting improved greatly and I had found a rooted sense of self in art history I hadn’t felt before even if at that time it was just one woman painter.
Now I understand there were MANY women artists through history, just most get written out of history or forgotten, but Artemisia’s pure visual voice cut through even all that to stand the test of time, which inspires me to this day.
The more I reflect on it her work impacted me so much it can still be seen in my focus on the feminine form and expression my viewpoints and emotions many would rather be suppressed for their own comfort.
